Constant Contact Messages Routed to Outlook Junk Folder

Northwestern IT recently learned that Microsoft is carefully scrutinizing emails nationwide from Constant Contact because the company’s service has been used to initiate wide-scale malicious email campaigns by the threat actor behind the attacks on SolarWinds.

As a result, emails generated by Northwestern schools and units in Constant Contact are being routed to faculty and staff members’ Microsoft Outlook junk folders.

Northwestern IT will continue to monitor the issue and provide further updates via the Status of University IT Services web page as new information is made available from Microsoft.

Impact on the University Community

For the immediate future, faculty and staff should continue to monitor their Microsoft Outlook junk folders. Northwestern faculty and staff using Constant Contact to reach Northwestern audiences should consider using the University’s Bulk Email tool, as necessary.

As a best practice from email vendors, please check your junk mail folder often for potential false positives.

Additional Information

Two articles that provide background on the situation are available online: Ars Technica and Microsoft.

Please direct questions about this information to the IT Service Desk at 847-491-4357 (1-HELP) or email consultant@northwestern.edu.